Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Tabbed Second in Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll
8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 12, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern's men's soccer team has been picked to finish second in the Big Ten this season in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches. Indiana is the lone team ahead of the Wildcats in the rankings.
"I say this every year, but I believe that Big Ten Men's Soccer is the only conference of any sport in the country where every team believes they have a legitimate chance to win a championship and they are right," Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. "Indiana, as always, will be the favorite but the other six teams all have the chance to win it. Over the last two years, Michigan State and Ohio State have proven that theory correct, as over the last four years there have been four different champions. From top to bottom, it's definitely the toughest conference in the country."
Ranked No. 9 in the preseason national rankings by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the Wildcats are coming off a 15-5-3 overall mark and a 3-3-0 record in Big Ten play a year ago while advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament. NU returns six starters and 15 letterwinners from last year's squad.
Defending conference champ Michigan State has been tabbed to finish third, followed by Ohio State. Penn State and Wisconsin tied for the fifth spot in the rankings, while Michigan is seventh.
Northwestern opens its exhibition season at home Thursday, Aug. 20 as it takes on UW-Parkside at Lakeside Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Big Ten Preseason Men's Soccer Poll
1. Indiana
2. Northwestern
3. Michigan State
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
5. Wisconsin
7. Michigan
